Engine



April 1, 1941.

ENGINE Filed Feb; 14, 1940 S. M. SWENSEN 4 Sheets-Sheet .1

. J27 men for 5511/0 M. 5Wen$en By his Aizarreys' April 1, 1941. s. M. SWENSEN ENGINE Filed Feb. 14, 1940 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Invenior, SzLgurdM Swenser By his Aiiorneys %%m WW April 1, 1941. s SWENSEN 2,236,738

ENGINE ,Filed Feb. 14, 1940' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z7 [nu-en for 5z'5'uro M. fiwensen By his Aiforneys M W Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES FATE 17 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to novel power transmission mechanism whereby the reciprocating movement of the cylinder and piston engine will be converted into rotary motion, or conversely, rotary motion of the power-driven shaft may be converted into reciprocating movement in a cylinder and piston machine, such as a pump or air compressor.

This invention may be employed in connection with a single cylinder and piston engine or in connection with a multi-cylinder'and piston engine. However, the invention lends itself to uses in connection with a multiplicity of cylinder and piston engines and, in the preferred embochment of the invention, I employ a plurality of such engines in connection with a rotary shaft having a plurality of oblique cranks set in such a way that the endwise thrust on the rotary shaft will be neutralized.

The novel features of the invention will be fully described and made clear in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View chiefly in plan, but with some parts in horizontal section, some parts broken away, and others removed;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with some parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a plan View showing particularly the connection between the oscillating or rocking engine-driven shaft and the continuously driven constant direction rotary shaft; and

Figs. 6 and '7 are graph sheets illustrating the action of the improved engine.

In this multi-cylinder engine structure, there is a sort of framework made up of a multiplicity of cylinders Ill rigidly connected to crank casings H in a substantially rectangular arrangement. The cylinders ID are in parallel arrangement and, in the structure illustrated, there are four doubleended cylinders, preferably horizontally disposed two on each side of the crank casing l Midway between the laterally spaced cylinders, the crank casings l are provided with axially aligned shaft bearings l2 and I3.

A rotary shaft I4 is extended through and journaled in the bearings l2 and I3 and within the crank casings are provided oblique crank arms I5 connected by oblique cranks It. It is important to note that the cranks I 6 are in converging relation so that, as will presently appear, end thrust on the shaft M will be eliminated. At its opposite sides, the crank casings I l are provided with transverse bearings I-I in'which oscillatory shafts I8 are journaled. Each rock shaft I8 is made up of axially separated portions, and the ends of which are formed integrally with or otherwise secured to yokes or double-ended crank arms [9, the outer ends of which are rigidly connected by rectangular guide heads or frames 20, the guide slots of which are parallel to but radially offset from the axis of the respective rookshafts l8.

Journaled in the oblique cranks [6, with freedom for sliding axial movements, are crank sleeves 2| that are provided with diametrically opposite projecting trunnion-like wrist pins 22' that are journaled in bearing blocks 23 slidably mounted in the guide frames 20.

In this particular arrangement of cylinders and pistons, each'of the four cylinders Ill is provided -shaft sections [8 to afiord clearance for the rockers 2'1. Those portions of the crank casings H carrying the bearing ll are formed with large notches or clearance passages 23.

These reciprocating engines or motors may be of either the gas or steam-actuated type, but will be assumed to be of the Diesel type; hence the fuel intake or injector is indicated at 29, the intake ports by the numeral 30 and the exhaust ports by the numeral 3|.

So far as this invention is concerned, the engines may be of the air-cooled or water-cooled type, but are assumed to be of the air-cooled type and hence the cylinders are shown as provided with radiating fins Illa.

Operation The operation of the mechanism or machine described summarized, is as follows:

The properly timed explosive charges in the several cylinders will, of course, force the respective pistons outward, the two pistons of the same cylinder simultaneously moving in opposite directions. As best illustrated in Fig. 2, the pistons in .5; an upper cylinder will be moved simultaneously outward while the pistons in the immediately lower cylinder will be moved simultaneously inward. This movement, of course, follows from the rocking movements of the rockers 21. The power and motion imparted from the reciprocating engines through the rockers 21 will simultaneously impart oscillatory movements to the shafts I8 and to the double-ended cranks I9 and guide heads 20. The oscillatory movements of the guide heads 20, acting on the bearing blocks 23 and trunnions 22 will cause the crank sleeves 2| to wobble around the axis of the crank shaft 14, and under such rotation, the sleeves 2| will wobble on the oblique cranks I6 and cause shaft. M to rotate in a continuous direction. Here it is important to note that under the forces thus transmitted, the simultaneous connections on the reversely inclined crank 16 will be neutralized and shaft M will be relieved from endwise thrusts. Under the above action, the oscillating movement of the shafts [8 will be converted into rotary motion in the shaft M.

A transmitting action reverse from that just described would be produced if shaft l4 were power-driven in a constant direction. Otherwise stated, if shaft l4 should be rotated in a constant direction, its oblique cranks, acting on the sleeves 2| and through the other connections to the pistons would reciprocate the said pistons as would be required if a pumping action was to be produced. Under motions transmitted either from the engines to the shaft H! or conversely, the bearing blocks 23 will slide freely in their guides 20 and journaled sleeve 2| will slide axially to crank [6. This combined float featureis highly important.

Theoretically, the axes of the shafts l4 and I8, of the cranks l and of the trunnions 22 should intersect at an exact common point, but that perfect accuracy is practically impossible to obtain in commercial practice. However, such great accuracy is not required because the sliding movements of the blocks 23 and the guides 2!] in conjunction with sliding axial movements of the sleeves 2| on crank It will comnensate for any reasonable, inaccuracies or play in. the parts and with the minimum of power loss due to friction, will transmit the power to be converted either from reciprocating to rotary or from rotary to reciprocating motion.

Attention is further called to the fact that sleeves 2! are also free for limited sliding movements on the crank l6 and that the revolving cranks i5 wobble sleeves 2| at points intermediate of their ends, so that even with a single crank there will be an equalization of the end thrusts. Also. it will be understood that a crank shaft with a single crank could be driven from a single engine. The engines shown are illustrated as of the two-cycle type, but as already indicated, may take various forms and might be four-cycle gas engines, steam engines or airactuated engines. However, the multiplicity of engines distributes the power evenly and keeps up a continuous application of power which will carry the crank shaft past dead centers under momentum when the power is transmitted from reciprocating engines to the constant direction rotary shaft.

The drawings show the cranks i6 at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of shaft I4, but this angle can be varied. The practical limits of variation are approximately from 20 degrees to 70 degrees of the cranks. to the axis of shaft l4.

Cir

With the cranks at 45 degrees, oscillation of shaft I8 will be through degrees;

With the cranks at 20 degrees, oscillation of shaft I8 will be through 40 degrees;

With the cranks at 60 degrees, oscillation of shaft l8 will be through degrees; and

With the cranks at 70 degrees, oscillation of shaft l8 will be through degrees.

However, the angle of the cranks may, in some instances, be greater or less than stated. Generally stated, the oscillation of shaft 18 will be twice that of the angle of the cranks I 8 to the axis of shaft l4, but, of course, the oscillation of shaft [4 cannot too closely approach degrees.

When the framework of the device made up of the engine cylinders, crank casings and bearings for the running parts are anchored to a fixed base or chassis at main motor bearing supports, all structural stresses and strains, otherwise passing through stationary engine structure, are directly and evenly absorbed by motor anchorage base, due to the fact that the forces are counter-balanced or set the one against the other in the mechanism. The opposed and counter-balanced or oppositely operating engines as well as the arrangement of the oblique cranks and connections are features that accomplish elimination of all ordinary mechanical unbalance.

Attention is now called to the diagram illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. Fig. 6 is a charted diagram of piston velocity, and Fig. '7 is a charted diagram of piston acceleration. In Fig. 6, the full line indicates the piston velocity of the Swensen engine, and the dotted line indicates the piston velocity of a conventional gas engine. In Fig, '7, the full line indicates the acceleration of the Swensen engine, and the dotted line indicates the piston acceleration of a conventional gas engine. These diagrams represent the results at 1000 R. P. M. with piston strokes of three and a half (3 inches, and with the oblique cranks at 60 degrees to the axis of the continuously rotated shaft. The advantages of the Swensen engine, as shown by these diagrams, over that of the conventional gas engine, it is thought, will be obvious to engineers familiar with this art.

From the foregoing description and statements made, it will be understood that the device described is capable of a large range of modification within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described, the comb nation with an oscillatory shaft and a constantdlrection rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank, of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally pro ected trunnion. said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide head in which the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted for travelling movements longitudinally of said oscillatory shaft.

2. In a device of the kind described, the comb nation with an oscillatory shaft and a constantdirection rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank. of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally projected trunnion, said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide h ad i wh1ch the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted for v lms movements longitudinally of said oscillatory shaft, and power means applied to one of said shafts for transmitting power to the other of said shafts.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an oscillatory shaft and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank, of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally projected trunnion, said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide head in which the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted for travelling-movements longitudinally of said oscillatory shaft, and in further combination with a cylinder having therein a reciprocating piston with connection to said crank arm for oscillating said oscillatory shaft.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an oscillatory shaft and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank, of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally projected trunnion, said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide head in which the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted, and in which structure said constant-direction shaft has axially spaced portions with projecting crank arms to which the ends of said oblique crank are directly secured with the said sleeve working between said crank arms.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an oscillatory shaft and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank, of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally projected trunnion, said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide head in which the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted, and in further combination with a cylinder having therein a reciprocating piston with connection. to said crank arm for oscillating said oscillatory shaft, and in which structure said oscillatory shaft has axially spaced portions provided each with a crank arm connected at their ends by substantially rectangular guide heads in which the trunnions of said sleeve are mounted.

6. In a device of the kind described, the com bination with oscillatory approximately parallel shafts and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shaft having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced crank arms, bearing heads connecting the ends of said laterally spaced arms and in which heads said bearing blocks are slidably mounted,

and power means operative on one of said shafts to transmit a converted motion, and in which structure said power means includes a reciprocatory motor havin connections to said rock shafts for oscillating the same.

'7. In a device of the kind described, the combination with oscillatory approximately parallel shafts and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shaft having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced crank arms, bearing heads connecting the ends of said laterally spaced arms and in which heads said bearing blocks are slidably mounted, and power means operative on one of said shafts to transmit a converted motion, and in which structure said power-means includes opposed cylinder piston engines with connections to said oscillatory shafts constructed and arranged to simultaneously oscillate the said shafts in reverse directions.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combination with approximately parallel oscillatory shafts and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shafts having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced rocker arms projecting radially in opposite directions therefrom, box-like guide heads rigidly connecting the ends of said oscillating crank arms, bearing blocks slidable in said guide heads, and in which the trunnions of said sleeves are journaled, and power means applied to one of said shafts and operative to apply motion thereto.

9. In a device of the kind described, the combination with approximately parallel oscillatory shafts and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shafts having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced rocker arms projecting radially in opposite directions therefrom, box-like guide heads rigidly connecting the ends of said rocker arms, bearing blocks slidable in said guide heads, and in which the trunnions of said sleeves are journaled, and reversely-acting cylinder and piston motors having connections to said rock shafts for simultaneously operating the same in reverse directions.

10. In a device of the kind described, the combination with approximately parallel oscillatory shafts and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shafts having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced rocker arms projecting radially in opposite directions therefrom, box-like guide heads rigidly connecting the ends of said rocker arms, bearing blocks slidable in said guide heads, and in which the trunnions of said sleeves are journaled, said oscillatory shafts having rocker arms projecting upwardly and downwardly therefrom, upper and lower laterally spaced pairs of cylinder and piston motors, the cylinders of which are fixed and the pistons of which are connected to the upper and lower ends of said rocker arms for simultaneously oscillating said oscillatory shafts.

11. In a device of the kind described, the combination with an oscillatory shaft and a constant-direction rotary shaft, the latter having an oblique crank, of a sleeve applied on said crank and having an intermediately located laterally projected trunnion, said oscillatory shaft having a crank arm equipped with a guide head in which the trunnion of said sleeve is mounted, and in which structure said oscillatory shaft is provided with a rocker arm extended diametrically in opposite directions therefrom, and reversely acting cylinder and piston motors, the movable elements of which are connected one to the upper and the other to the lower end of said rocker arm.

12. The combination with a continuously rotatable shaft having an oblique crank, of an oscillatory shaft having a crank arm, and a sleeve on said crank connected to said crank arm by a pivot, the axis of which transversely intersects the axis of said sleeve at a point radially offset from the axis of said sleeve and oscillatory shaft, and which sleeve is mounted for limited axial sliding movements on said oblique crank.

tatable shaft having an oblique crank, of an oscillatory shaft having a crank arm, and a sleeve on said crank connected to said crank arm by a pivot, the axis of which transversely intersects the axis of said sleeve at a point radially oifset from the axis of said sleeve and oscillatory shaft, and in which structure said bearing heads are substantially rectangular frames having parallel slots in which said bearing heads are slidably mounted.

15. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said sleeve is mounted for limited axial sliding movements on said oblique crank.

16. The structure defined in claim 9 in which said sleeves are mounted for limited axial sliding movements on said oblique cranks.

1'7. In a device of the kind described, the combination with approximately parallel oscillatory shafts and a constant direction rotary shaft, the latter having reversely oblique cranks, of sleeves applied to said cranks and having oppositely projecting trunnions, said oscillatory shafts having axially spaced portions provided with laterally spaced rocker arms projecting radially in opposite directions therefrom, box-like guide heads rigidly connecting the ends of said rocker arms, bearing blocks slidable in said guide heads, and in which the trunnions of said sleeves are journaled, and reversely-acting cylinder and piston motors having connections to said rock shafts, whereby said rock shafts will be given substantially simultaneous oscillations in substantially reverse directions.

SIGURD M. SWENSEN. 

